I am not sure why this novel got on to my wish list, but it did and I downloaded it from the OPL when it became available. In a remote cove on the west shore of Newfoundland’s Bonavista Penninsula, (apparently in the late 1700s, although there are no dates discussed) both parents and an infant daughter die in short order, leaving a ten year old boy and an eight year old girl to fend for themselves for at least eight years. They trade furs and fish for provisions from a ship that stops by twice yearly, never sure they will survive until the next visit.
As the pair enter into puberty, their sexual awakening is described in reasonably delicate language at first but then becomes more graphic. Although possibly realistic, considering their ignorance, illiteracy and isolation, many readers will be repulsed by the description of their conflicted and befuddled activities.
Newfie idioms and primitive language is used liberally by the Newfie author, to great effect in conveying their simple unique way of life. There are few characters to keep track of, and as a peek into the early subsistence culture, this is probably an accurate portrayal. The ending is abrupt, leaving the reader with questions about the fate of the protagonists. That may be a good strategy if the author is planning to write a sequel.
I have mixed feelings about this dark and sinister tale. Do not read it if your at all prone to depression. I understand that the author’s earlier novels are more upbeat.
The Passionate Reader 